READER, if thou hast a tear, Thou canst not choose but pay it here. Here lies modesty, meekness, zeal, Goodness, piety, and (to tell Her worth at once) one that had shown All virtues that her sex could own, Nor dare my praise too lavish be, Lest her dust blush, for so would she. Hast thou beheld in the spring's bowers Tender buds break to bring forth flowers? So to keep virtue's stock, pale Death Took her to give her infant breath. Thus her accounts were all made even, She robb'd not earth to add to heaven. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SPIRIT OF SHAKESPEARE: 2 by GEORGE MEREDITH ROBIN REDBREAST by MOTHER GOOSE MY FAMILIAR by JOHN GODFREY SAXE AT THE FIRESIDE by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS IN WILTSHIRE; SUGGESTED BY POINTS OF SIMILARITY WITH THE SOMME COUNTRY by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |